Poland’s quality start, Beloit’s homers not enough

DAYTON, OH -- The Sky Carp squandered a 4-0 lead to fall 5-4 in walk-off fashion to the Dayton Dragons to open a six-game series on Tuesday night at Day Air Ballpark.

Zach Zubia gave Beloit an early lead with an impressive two-run homer in the second inning, belted out of the ballpark to left field.

Pitching with the lead, Sky Carp starter Jared Poland was strong – allowing just two base runners through his first four innings of work.

In the fifth, Ynmanol Marinez doubled Beloit’s lead with his own two-run homer, which made it 4-0.

Dayton responded in the bottom half by playing longball themselves, as Mat Nelson’s solo homer got the Dragons on the board.

Poland came out for the sixth, and Dayton scratched across another run, scoring on an Edwin Arroyo RBI double to make it 4-2. Poland stranded Arroyo on third to finish his final inning of work. Poland’s six-inning, six-strikeout performance marked his second consecutive quality start.

Beloit ran into trouble in the eighth inning, as Austin Hendrick drove an RBI triple with two outs to make it a one-run game.

Following the triple, Cristian Charle came out of the Sky Carp bullpen and induced a tapper back to the mound off Ruben Ibarra’s bat. Charle and the catcher Joe Mack collided between the plate and the mound, allowing Hendrick to score the tying run.

The Sky Carp went down 1-2-3 in the ninth inning, and Dayton quickly ended the game in the bottom half. After a pop out from Nelson, Cade Hunter singled and Jack Rodgers doubled him in to walk-off Beloit.

The series continues Wednesday night, with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 ET. Fans can listen to the action for free using the Big Radio App.